November 2024 Amsterdam riots

November 2024 Amsterdam attacks
Part of antisemitism during the Israel–Hamas war and anti-Palestinianism during the Israel–Hamas war
Amsterdam's Dam Square, where the attacks first began
Date	7 November 2024 (2024-11-07)
Location	Amsterdam, Netherlands
Caused by	Antisemitism, Anti-Palestinianism, Anti-Zionism
Methods	Riots, ambush
Resulted in	"Emergency measures" in Amsterdam
Parties
Fans of Maccabi Tel Aviv Pro-Palestinian groups and football attendees Amsterdam residents National Police Corps Royal Marechaussee
Casualties
Injuries	5 hospitalized, 20–30 injured

On 7 November 2024, following a UEFA Europa League football match in Amsterdam, Netherlands, between Israeli club Maccabi Tel Aviv and Dutch club AFC Ajax, Maccabi Tel Aviv fans were targeted in a series of attacks.

Some media outlets described the incident as a large-scale pogrom targeting Jews due to the coordinated nature of the attack and the selection of Jewish and Israeli populations as targets. Israeli and Dutch officials characterized the attack as antisemitic.

During the attacks, Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters were reportedly ambushed and assaulted in various locations across the city. Dutch police stated that the perpetrators "actively sought out Israeli supporters to attack and assault them". Five people were hospitalized, while 20 to 30 other supporters sustained minor injuries. Three rescue flights were organized for the safe return of Israelis.

Calls for attacks were shared via social media groups the night before after incidents in the city. Maccabi Tel Aviv fans were filmed beforehand burning a Palestinian flag, chanting anti-Arab slurs and not observing a moment of silence for the victims of the 2024 Spanish floods.

Background

The Israel–Hamas war began on 7 October 2023 after the Hamas-led attack on Israel that day, which resulted in 1,139 people being killed and 251 others being taken hostage into the Gaza Strip. Israel began bombing the Gaza Strip also on the same day, and by November 2024, it had killed over 40,000 Palestinians. The Israeli government has been accused of committing a genocide in Gaza during the war. A number of protests related to the war have taken place in the Netherlands.

There has been a significant increase in antisemitic incidents around the world during the course of the war, including in the Netherlands. A few months before the attacks, the European Union's Fundamental Rights Agency reported a rise in antisemitic attacks across Europe, partly attributed to the ongoing war.

The war also reignited debate over inclusion of the Israel Football Association (IFA) in international football competitions. The IFA was admitted into UEFA in 1991, after its expulsion from the Asian Football Confederation in the 1970s. In October 2024, FIFA announced that it would be investigating the IFA for allegations of anti-Palestinian discrimination, following complaints by the Palestinian Football Association.

The Maccabi Tel Aviv fan base is known to include far-right ultras groups that have been involved in racist incidents in Israel in the past, including directing racist abuse at Arab and black players on their own team. In March, prior to a game against Olympiacos, a man who had been carrying a Palestinian flag was taken to hospital in Athens after an altercation with a group of Maccabi fans; video footage appeared to show a group of Maccabi fans beating the man up. Two people were arrested.

Other European matches played by Maccabi this season had passed without violence. However, security issues with hosting games for visiting Israeli teams has proved challenging with the Belgian soccer federation declining to stage a men's National League game in September 2024, and a game against Israel was played with no fans in the stadium in Hungary.

Events

Prelude

The match between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv was a Europa League group stage match held at the Johan Cruyff Arena.

Ahead of the game, Amsterdam mayor Femke Halsema prohibited pro-Palestinian protests near the stadium due to concerns over possible violence. Halsema requested an additional threat assessment from the National Coordinator for Counterterrorism and Security (NCTV), noting increased tensions due to the ongoing Israel-Hamas war and the upcoming commemoration of the Kristallnacht. However, the NGOs that organized that commemoration canceled it because of the attitude of the municipality that, according to them, "refused to take responsibility for the racist terror of the hooligans and the red carpet that it rolled out for them". Mossad agents joined the team on their trip to "provide maximum protection", and Amsterdam police increased their presence in the city center the night before the match. Mossad also warned of a potential threat to Israelis and Jews in the Netherlands prior to the match, sending a warning to security forces. The mayor later said that the match itself was not initially flagged as high-risk, as Ajax is traditionally associated with Judaism.

Local authorities cited concerns over the potential for conflict in various areas. Mossad also warned ahead of the event of an Israeli former soldier having his passport stolen and his details posted on social media.

6 November

Footage and reports showed individuals tearing down and burning Palestinian flags in Amsterdam on the evening of 6 November and shouting "fuck you Palestine". A Dutch police chief said there were incidents "on both sides" and that Maccabi fans had vandalised a taxi, which was followed by "an online call" for taxi drivers to go to a casino where 400 Israeli fans were present. A Maccabi supporter was chased into the canal and forced to yell "Free Palestine", while bystanders chanted "kankerjood" ("cancer jew").

The Amsterdam police escorted the supporters outside and said they had prevented other disturbances, besides small riots around the casino. By 3:30 am, nevertheless, everything in the city had quietened down.

On Wednesday evening after the incident at the casino and throughout Thursday, calls for attacks on Israeli supporters thoughout the day were shared in Snapchat and Telegram groups. A group discussed bringing fireworks. Police boosted their presence on Wednesday night, citing tensions the day before the game.

7 November

Despite heightened security and the ban of such protests, pro-Palestinian demonstrators attempted to reach the Johan Cruyff Arena on match day.

According to Dutch councilman and former BIJ1 member Jazie Veldhuyzen, rioting broke out when Israeli fans "began attacking houses of people in Amsterdam with Palestinian flags". This led to a response from several groups of "Amsterdammers" chanting pro-Palestinian slogans confronted Israeli fans in the city's Dam Square. Police instructed individuals displaying pro-Palestinian symbols or chanting slogans like "Free Palestine" to leave the square.

At the stadium, Maccabi fans interrupted a minute of silence for the victims of the 2024 Spanish floods with chanting and whistles before the match; this was attributed by some outlets to the Spanish government's criticism of Israel's war conduct in Gaza.

After the game, violence erupted in several areas of Amsterdam. A video verified by Reuters showed Maccabi fans setting off flares and chanting "Olé, olé, let the IDF win, we will fuck the Arabs". According to the Dutch police, Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters were ambushed and attacked in various locations throughout the city. According to The Jerusalem Post, the attacks involved multiple assaults, with footage showing fans being beaten and chased with knives. Eyewitnesses reported attempted stabbings, individuals being thrown into a river, and attackers beating and spitting on Israelis. Video showed one man, apparently unconscious on the street, kicked repeatedly while lying in a fetal position. A report by Maariv also indicated at least one attempted kidnapping of an Israeli, and many fans sought refuge by barricading themselves in stores and buildings. Ten Israelis were injured and three temporarily went missing during the attacks, with the Israeli foreign ministry reporting later that everyone was accounted for.

Halsema said the attacks included hit-and-run assaults carried out by "boys on scooters," who fled the scene when confronted by police. She said authorities had sought a security assessment from the NCTV, which found no specific threat, adding that early investigations showed the riots had been quickly organized on Telegram.

Motivation

The violence that erupted in Amsterdam was tied to the Israel–Hamas war and the wider Israeli–Palestinian conflict, which ignited political tensions worldwide. According to De Volkskrant, pro-Palestinian activists saw the presence of Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters in the city as symbolic of Israeli military actions in Gaza, which fueled their anger and resentment. This sentiment was further exacerbated by calls for Israeli football clubs to be excluded from European competitions, a demand amplified following the exclusion of Russian clubs after the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Earlier incidents in the week had intensified the situation. A pro-Palestinian activist had been attacked by Ajax supporters, and social media played a significant role in amplifying tensions, with messages warning about the presence of "hooligans" in the city and urging people to avoid certain areas.

Anti-Arab chants also echoed through the city as Israeli fans, escorted by police to the stadium, shouted slogans like "Let the IDF win, and fuck the Arabs" and "Why is there no school in Gaza? There are no children left there." During Thursday evening's Europa League match between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv, footage from the Johan Cruyff Arena showed Maccabi supporters refusing to observe a minute's silence for the victims of the 2024 Spanish floods. As the silence took place, chanting could still be heard in the background. In addition, the individual who posted the clip claimed that "illegal fireworks" had been set off during the game, and that the Maccabi supporters' actions had been due to Spain's cancellation of an arms deal with an Israeli company.

A report in De Telegraaf argued that the attacks on Israelis were made public in advance.

Aftermath

The five people who were hospitalized were eventually released, while approximately 20 to 30 others sustained minor injuries. 62 people had been arrested before and during the football match, four of whom for public violence. No arrests have yet been made for the hit-and-run attacks after the match.

Following the return of Maccabi fans to Israel, video was posted on social media showing them chanting the racist slogans they had chanted in Amsterdam, including "Why is school out in Gaza? There are no children left there".

Amsterdam officials banned any demonstrations for three days after the overnight attacks, Dutch police were also given the authority to emergency stop and search individuals. Police were also stationed in larger numbers at Jewish institutions across the city. By Saturday, most of those arrested had been released and four suspected of public violence were being held, including one identified from CCTV footage. 40 people were fined for public disurbance. "If people are released, it doesn't mean they are no longer a suspect," a police spokeswoman said, adding that other arrests might still be made, as the investigation was ongoing.

Response

Netherlands

The attacks were described by Dutch authorities as antisemitic, with statements of condemnation from both the Dutch and Israeli governments. Some Israeli and Dutch authors have described this incident as a pogrom.

Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof said he was "horrified by the antisemitic attacks on Israeli citizens." He called the situation "unacceptable," adding that he was "in close contact with all parties involved and have just spoken to Netanyahu by phone to stress that the perpetrators will be identified and prosecuted." Schoof also cancelled his attendance at the 2024 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Azerbaijan to monitor the focus on the response to the unrest. Justice Minister David van Weel stated that the perpetrators would be identified and held accountable, adding, "We should be ashamed of ourselves."

King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands expressed "deep horror and shock" at the attacks, adding: "We failed the Jewish community of the Netherlands during World War II, and last night we failed again."

Multiple parties in the House of Representatives have called for an urgent debate, which is set to occur next week. Dutch politician Geert Wilders wrote: "Looks like a Jew hunt in the streets of Amsterdam. Arrest and deport the multicultural scum that attacked Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters in our streets," adding that he was "Ashamed that this can happen in The Netherlands. Totally unacceptable." VVD leader Dilan Yeşilgöz described the images as "incredibly sick" and referred to the perpetrators as "pure scum, pure Jew-hatred."

Amsterdam mayor Femke Halsema condemned the attacks, describing the perpetrators as "antisemitic hit-and-run squads." At a news conference, she expressed deep shame, calling the incident "a very dark moment for the city." Halsema expressed that the incident reminded her of pogroms against Jews in Europe, emphasizing that Jewish life and culture were under threat.

Israel

Israeli foreign minister Gideon Sa'ar reacted to the attacks by advising Israelis in Amsterdam to stay in their hotels. In the wake of the violence, which he condemned as "barbaric and antisemitic," Sa'ar described the events as "a blaring alarm call for Europe and the world." He also reached out to his Dutch counterpart, Caspar Veldkamp, requesting assistance in transporting Israeli citizens safely from their hotels to the airport, as reported by Israel’s foreign ministry.

In a call with Dutch PM Schoof, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu stressed "the supreme importance" of ensuring the safety of all Israelis in the Netherlands. Netanyahu emphasized the seriousness of the planned anti-Semitic attacks against Israeli citizens and requested heightened security for the Jewish community in the Netherlands, according to the Israeli prime minister's Office. Initially, Netanyahu announced plans to dispatch "rescue planes" to bring Israeli citizens home. However, his office later clarified that the focus would shift to arranging commercial flights for their safe return, rather than deploying rescue planes.

Israeli president Isaac Herzog referred to the events in Amsterdam as an "anti-Semitic pogrom," calling it a serious incident and a warning to any nation that values freedom. He expressed confidence in the Dutch authorities' ability to protect Israelis and Jews under attack. Netanyahu compared it to the Kristallnacht, noting the attacks took place on its 86th anniversary.

El Al, Israel's flag carrier, announced it would run three rescue flights from Amsterdam to Tel Aviv on Shabbat, Judaism's day of rest, with approval from Israel's Chief Rabbinate. The flights were said to be free.

Palestine

The Palestinian Foreign Ministry issued a statement, rejecting all forms of violence but condemning anti-Arab slogans and the desecration of the Palestinian flag by Maccabi supporters. The ministry expressed concern over what it described as "violent acts" carried out by the fans, known for their "racist tendencies" over three consecutive days in the Dutch capital.

The ministry called on the Dutch government to investigate those responsible for the unrest and to ensure the protection of Palestinians and Arabs, citing concerns over the presence of individuals described as illegal settlers and soldiers allegedly spreading "racist notions" across European cities. Additionally, the ministry warned of the growing influence of these groups, characterizing their actions as a "direct attack on Palestinian identity and symbols."

The Palestinian Football Association said that they were "gravely concerned" about the incident, further stating that they have condemned the anti-Palestinian racism and Islamophobia expressed by Maccabi Tel Aviv fans and said that it "had presented FIFA with extensive evidence of such hateful expressions, yet concrete action remains lacking".

Other countries

• France: Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau rejected calls to relocate an upcoming match between France and Israel, stating that doing so would amount to "abdicating in the face of threats of violence and antisemitism." He affirmed that the match would proceed as planned at the Stade de France, with security arrangements in place to ensure safety.
• Germany: German ambassador to Israel, Steffen Seibert, wrote that as a European he was "ashamed to see such scenes in one of our great cities". He added that "Chasing and beating up Israeli soccer fans is not anti-war protest. It is criminal and intolerable and we must all stand against it."
• United Kingdom: Foreign Secretary David Lammy said he was "horrified" by "antisemitic attacks on Israeli citizens." He wrote: "I utterly condemn these abhorrent acts of violence and stand with Israeli and Jewish people across the world."
• United States: President Joe Biden wrote: "The Antisemitic attacks on Israeli soccer fans in Amsterdam are despicable and echo dark moments in history when Jews were persecuted." He further added that "We must relentlessly fight Antisemitism, wherever it emerges." The attacks were also condemned by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and other lawmakers from both parties. U.S. special envoy on Antisemitism Deborah Lipstadt said the attacks were "terribly reminiscent of a classic pogrom".

Jewish groups and figures

Yad Vashem expressed "deep concern" and solidarity with the victims. The organization called it "profoundly alarming" to witness such violence, especially with the anniversary of Kristallnacht approaching. Yad Vashem emphasized that the incident highlights the "alarming resurgence of antisemitism, a cancerous plague that has infiltrated every aspect of our society."

Yonathan Arfi, head of the Conseil Représentatif des Institutions juives de France, called the events "a mass lynching, a systematic attack on Israeli supporters leaving the match. It is the crassest anti-Semitism that is resurfacing through these images", adding that the victims were targeted "not only in the name of the conflict taking place in Gaza but also because they are Jews."

Sir Ephraim Mirvis, Chief Rabbi of the UK and Commonwealth, called the attacks a "watershed moment" for Europe, adding that "Hateful mobs have chased down Jewish and Israeli football fans on the streets of Amsterdam after a match, violently beating them and proudly posting the footage on social media."

The Forward, an American news organization serving the Jewish American audience, reported that many in the Netherlands' small Jewish community said the incident was being weaponized and stripped of context, even as they worried about their own safety. Jelle Ziljstra, a Jewish community organizer in Amsterdam, stated in a viral Instagram post that “multiple truths can exist at the same time”, highlighting both the assaults on Israelis and footage of the fans shouting “Fuck Palestine” the night before. In an interview, Ziljstra said, “There was definitely antisemitism involved in some of the events that took place. Were Jews attacked in the streets? Yes, but those Jews were also violent hooligans.”

Israeli-American journalist Mairav Zonszein of the International Crisis Group said it was "absurd" to compare the violence in Amsterdam to the pogroms in Russia.

In Amsterdam, the Jewish organisation Erev Rav and the Stop Racism and Fascism Platform expressed concern about the "failure of the police to protect anti-Zionist Jews and demonstrators, after the mayor and police of Amsterdam allowed Israeli Zionists to wreak havoc, burn Palestinian flags, wish death to ‘Arabs’ and mistreat taxi drivers." These organizations also cancelled the Kristallnacht commemoration due to 'violent' Maccabi supporters and attitude of the municipality not taking responsible actions about it.

Muslim groups and figures

CAIR, an American Muslim civil rights and advocacy group, issued a statement in which they condemned the "openly racist Israeli soccer hooligans" and said that "the false claim that Dutch Muslim and Arab residents of Amsterdam suddenly and randomly attacked Jewish people in a modern-day pogrom" was unacceptable.

Hamas senior spokesperson Sami Abu Zuhri attributed the recent unrest in Amsterdam following the football match to what he described as spontaneous responses to Israel’s actions in Gaza. In an interview with Anadolu Agency on 8 November, Zuhri stated that the events in Amsterdam illustrate the public reaction to what he termed an ongoing genocide in Gaza, witnessed live without effective international intervention to stop it or hold accountable those responsible. He further emphasized that ending the violence in Gaza is essential for upholding human rights and supporting both regional and global peace and security.